The steel cutting ceremony of the 17,000 Ton Fleet Tanker, being built for Pakistan Navy (PN), was held at state-owned Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) on Wednesday November 27, 2013.
Rana Tanveer HUSSAIN, Federal Minister for Defence Production (MoDP) graced the occasion as Head Guest.
The ceremony, marking the start of the Fleet Tanker construction at the Karachi Shipyards, was attended by Ambassador of Turkey Sadık Babür GİRGİN, Turkey’s Karachi Consul General Murat ONART, Vice Admiral Muhammad ZAKAULLAH, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Murad BAYAR, Undersecretary for Defence Industries (SSM) of Turkey, Lt. Gen. (R) Tanvir TAHIR, Secretary MoDP, Rear Admiral [UH] Syed Hasan Nasir SHAH, Managing Director of KSEW, Faruk OZLU, STM Chairman, Recep BARUT, STM General Manager, members of Turkish Delegation, Flag Officers and Management and workers of KSEW.
Under the Fleet Tanker Project, as a result of extensive efforts and negotiations Turkish technology and systems engineering house Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret (STM) was selected over China Shipbuilding Trading Corporation (CSTC) of China and on 22 January 2013 awarded a contract by Pakistan MoDP to provide the Karachi Shipyard (KSEW) with the Technical Data Package (TDP) and Kit of Material (KoM) for the construction of the double-hull Fleet Tanker, which will be constructed by the KSEW as the main-subcontractor to and with the technical support of STM. As prime contractor, STM will also provide consultancy and management support under the 48-month programme.
Valued at around US$80 Million, the contract represents a landmark for STM, marking the first time that a Turkish company has been contracted to export ship design and engineering services to Pakistan. Pakistan Navy's Fleet Tanker will primarily provide logistics support to PN units at sea through transfer of liquid and dry cargos.
As a strategic organization under Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) KSEW supports Pakistan Navy in building of warships and essential repair works. Geographically located within the boundaries of Karachi Port Complex, and covering an area of 71 acres, KSEW has the capability to construct frigates, pressure hull of Agosta 90B submarines, floating docks, missile crafts, gun boats, tugs, oil and water tankers and other support vessels.
The event was also marked by the signing of first milestone (steel cutting) certificate between the representatives of STM, Pakistan Navy and KSEW as well as the inauguration of 2nd Plasma NC cutting machine recently installed at KSEW. Under the program, second milestone will be achieved by keel laying ceremony planned for September 19, 2014.
According to schedule Fleet tanker will be launched on November 19, 2016 and after harbour (HAT) and sea (SAT) acceptance tests planned to be handed over to Pakistan Navy on April 19, 2017.
